Only two spots remain open for a beginning driver course in Yankton being offered by the South Dakota Safety Council.

The class runs the weekend of June 18 and features defensive driving instruction, behind-the-wheel training, driving simulator instruction, a traffic talk with members of the Yankton Police Department and a roll-over simulator with the highway patrol.

Although only two spots remain open, Diane Hall, emergency care, traffic and membership with the South Dakota Safety Council, said she would bring the class back to Yankton if it fills up.

“This is a unique training class designed specifically for beginning drivers who have their learners permit,” Hall said. “The goal of the class is to reduce and prevent injuries and collisions and help beginning drivers drive smarter.”

She added that she hopes the class will increase the knowledge of beginning drivers and influence their attitudes and behaviors while driving to help keep them safe on the road.

The Safety Council has offered similar classes in Yankton in the past, including a defensive driver training course, but this is the first class specifically geared towards new drivers.

“With the simulator we’ll bring to the class, students will be able to go through a number of different         situations,” Hall said. “The simulator brings up scenarios including hazard recognition, driving technique and appropriate decision making behind the wheel.”

The round-table discussion with law enforcement will deal with feedback and input about what officers see with new drivers, including driving distractions, impairment and what drivers should do if they get pulled over.

“One of the goals of the class is to introduce thoughts into new drivers that influence their attitudes and make them think more about certain situations when they’re behind the wheel,” Hall said. “We want to help kids drive smarter and increase their knowledge about what is going on when they’re driving.”

Currently, South Dakota allows 14-year-olds to get a learner’s permit. The difference between a learner’s permit and restricted license is that a learner’s permit requires drivers to have a qualified adult in the car while they drive.

The permit is held for six months, then if a parent or guardian says it’s okay, new drivers can go to the DMV and get their restricted license, following a driving test.

A restricted license allows new drivers to drive by themselves within a restricted time frame, there are no passenger restrictions with this license in South Dakota.

Hall said officials at the Safety Council believe the drivers license  system in South Dakota is outdated.

“The graduated license procedure the state implemented is wonderful and it was current when it was implemented,” she said. “We definitely support new drivers needing to have their permit for a full year before getting their restricted license.”

Hall said the reason officials support the longer time frame on drivers holding their permit is because the state features so many different driving scenarios.

“There are a lot of different weather conditions in the state, and within a year, new drivers would be exposed to many conditions,” she said. “Not only weather conditions, but also traffic, farm equipment, bicycles, pedestrians, trucks and just so many things that new drivers should experience with a driver beside them.”

Hall added that there has been extensive discussion in the legislature about getting the system change, but, she noted, change takes time.

She thinks the beginning driver class will have a substantial impact on the people that take the course.

“We take what we learn from other classes and mold them in order to best enhance beginner driver skills,” Hall said. “We’ve never before included talk with law enforcement officers, a rollover simulator or behind-the-wheel training.”

The class will take place at the Rural Technical Education Center (RTEC) on June 18 from 8-5 p.m., with behind-the-wheel training on June 19. There is a cost to participate, which includes lunch, and credit and debit cards are accepted. Payment is due at the time of registration and all interested students must have their learners permit.

To register, call Diane Hall at 800-952-5539 or e-mail her at dhall@southdakotasafetycouncil.org.

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